Beginner with 14 years of experience

Hi all! Just turned 47 and been playing since I was about 33. Very much on and off where I would practice heavy for few weeks, then put it down for a couple of months. I've taken lessons for short periods of time, but never really practiced or followed through on what was assigned.

I've been lucky enough to hook up with a very casual band playing rhythm, but overall, I am a very poor guitarist, especially for almost 15 years of playing time.. I have problems with basic stuff and can't even manage a respectable lead.

At any rate, I've decided to take this course and basically start from scratch with Guitar Fundamentals 1. I want to learn the right way and break old bad habits. Some of it I breeze through, but I am definitely learning stuff in even the first few videos!! At any rate, I love the way this program is laid out and I hope its the start becoming the guitar player that I have always hoped to become! Thanks for listening and good luck to everyone else on a similar journey!! -Rob

Welcome aboard!! You've found a great place to learn and a great community to help you through.

Your plan is perfect and is what I did when I started here 2 years ago. I had been playing for almost 30 years at that point and was off and on just like you throughout the years.

The lessons here really helped me fill in some gaps and firm my foundation so I could move forward.

Enjoy!

Thanks Maggior!! I notice you are also from NJ. Very cool!!

Welcome Rob..
Can't say I actually lived in NJ, but I was homeported in Bayonne NJ for a couple years.

Bayonne...not one of the finer places in Joisey :).

Rob - whereabouts in Jersey are you? I'm in the northwest part of the state by Hackettstown...where they manufacture M&Ms :).

Hey Maggior, I've been to Hackettstown many years ago playing paintball. I know where it is. I live up North from you in a small town called Butler. It's about 7-8 miles north of Wayne.

This is also my story. Picked up my first guitar aged 11. Learned to play some classical with lessons at school. I'm 46 now. It's been a lifetime love affair. I have 9 guitars hanging off my basement wall, but I can't play to save my life! I go through periods where I apply myself and I see good results really quickly then I get side tracked and lose it all.... It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I also started with "guitar fundamentals 1 " and blew through some sections but also learned a huge amount of basic stuff that I should have learned 25 years ago.....This is a fantastic site and I intend to make full use of it

I also am an older beginner (47). I've been playing for 4 1/2 years and have played with 4 different church groups/ bands on stage, though it has been almost entirely rhythm. I struggle with speed, and find that, unless I'm playing open or barre chords, I'm really slow. 99% of my learning has been via the internet. Tried classes for a month, but found it frustrating and counter-productive.

I love the format of these online lessons (both the beginner class and the song lessons). What does it take to get fast? I'll admit that I only spend on average 5 hours a week practicing, but struggle (until becoming a member here) with what to practice.

Hi Abnmabe -

Welcome! That's awesome that just starting out you've had the opportunity to play with other musicians on stage!

The fact that you can play rhythm guitar really well and manage open and barre chord changes well is a great foundation.

What exactly are you trying to speed up...are you learning or improvising solos? Are you trying to add little runs inbetween chord changes?

Speed is one of those things that comes with time. It's a paradox...to speed up you must slow down. It's about efficient movement and economy of motion...of both the picking hand and the fretting hand. If you look at any speed development methods, this is what is being focused on.

In developing speed, it's helpful to use a metrenome or a drum beat and slowly incremement the tempo. Find where you are comfortable and put it *a little bit beyond that limit*. Over time, you'll find that boundary moves further and fruther up.

To a point, your fingers will figure out what they need to do, but focusing on technique can be helpful too...ensure proper body posture and positioning, employ appropriate picking technique (alternate picking, economy picking, hybrid picking etc.)

For myself, my speed has come naturally from just playing my guitar a lot. I'm certainly not what you would call a fast player, but there are runs I can pull off now that I couldn't a year ago. I always make sure that I have some challenging runs or solos under my fingers that I practice all of the time to develop coordination and speed.